In the Star Wars universe, there are many sections of galactic society whose unique sense of style is very much characteristic of their people, species, profession or whatever else it happens to be that defines their aesthetic. As a roleplayer, I quite enjoy a good bit of visual variety and lament its absence. One such so-afflicted party, at least in a certain way, are Jedi; it can be argued that plenty of Jedi-appropriate clothing is available, especially armour, but some of the most iconic Jedi looks is in short (thus rather expensive) supply.

While it is fair to say that armoured and tighter variations of robes become commonplace during wartime, equally likely is that many will retain the various versions of the iconic look most familiar to the Star Wars films. Sometimes you aren’t fighting, sometimes you aren’t even a warrior caste. Rugged simplicity is the hallmark of a Jedi’s gear and in represents the humility and minimalism characteristic of the mentality.

Peace, justice and a sense of order are imperative in the hopes of living in a crime free society. Our streets are packed full of criminals, gangs and petty low-lives who don't know right from wrong. To counteract these groups of people, there are forces and services that act in the name of the law to ensure that our communities are safe. It is not an easy role as crime never sleeps. The police and defence forces around the globe are the two main groups that put their lives on the line, serving and protecting its people. Without these groups and a judicial system, we'd be living in anarchy.

There are countless films and other forms of media based on the world's police and defence forces. There are far too many to name. Star Wars, however, brings new meaning to defenders of peace and justice. Call them real life monks with special powers, if you will. Of course, we're talking about the Jedi from the Jedi Order. Their role in Star Wars is to the maintain peace and justice around the galaxy. Not an easy gig as there are thousands upon thousands of systems that require aid on a daily basis. They serve the Republic, just as we've seen in the prequels, the post-Galactic Empire era, but most importantly, in the era of The Old Republic.

In today's Friday Focus, tell us how important the Jedi Order is to you. How important is the Jedi Order to your character for The Old Republic? What influence has it had on your character choice? How important is the Jedi Order to the Star Wars story and roleplay? Pop your thoughts into the comments section, and may be the force be with you all!

Would it be an incorrect generalisation to say that everybody eventually chooses a side? Regardless of whether or not you claim independence, in most cases your actions generally tend to assist one particular side in a two-faction battle. Playing the mediator is not a fun gig. How much slack can you take from either side before eventually giving in, either calling it quits or choosing your allegiance? Before doing so, you need to ask yourself the question as to which side will benefit you. You can take it a step further and ask yourself which is the lesser of two evils.

If we ask ourselves from these questions from the point of view of the many Star Wars characters, we'd get a bunch of different answers. Jango Fett benefits from a substantial amount of wealth from the cloning campaign on Kamino. Money isn't everything though. All the money in the world cannot stop a clean decapitation from a lightsaber. The Jedi set their allegiance with the Jedi Order, swearing to maintain peace and uphold justice on behalf of the Galactic Republic, but for many Jedi, this just isn't fitting. How many have veered from the path of light, steering themselves towards the dark side of the Force? There isn't much of an in-between, as there are only few Grey Jedi that ever existed in the history of Star Wars.

In The Old Republic, we're forced to set our allegiance to either the Republic or Sith Empire. However, there are those that have chosen one of the two factions only for class selection, in hopes of maintaining an independent point of view. But really, who are you kidding? You're going to eventually work for either side, depending on which faction offers you a better reward, right? For today's Friday Focus, tell us what factors determined your choice of faction. What is it about the Galactic Republic or Sith Empire that is so alluring? Chuck your thoughts into the comments section.

Unfortunately, all good things must eventually come to an end. Worlds of The Old Republic is a series of articles based on the planets that we can visit in The Old Republic, detailing the planets' history and story, as well as a few interesting facts. This is the seventh and final edition of the series, covering the last three planets, saving some of the best for last. Coruscant and Corellia, majority of you should be familiar with, especially if you call yourself a Star Wars fan. The third and final planet featured in this article is Ord Mantell. Each planet is aligned with the Republic, but they're said to have suffered an impact from the Empire or criminal organisations in some way. Lets find out how.

In an article miniseries based on Daniel Wallace's instruction book for students of the Jedi Order – The Jedi Path – we've taken you through some of the lessons taught to Initiates and Padawans, as well as discussing some of the roles available to Jedi talented enough to make it to the rank of Jedi Knight. The Jedi Path: Teachings of the Jedi Order has acted as a guide for roleplayers who wish to learn more about the lore covering the different ranks within the Jedi Order, exclusively on SWTOR-RP.

Note that most of the knowledge extracted from the book has been of the teachings after the Ruusan Reformation – an event which occurred much later in the Star Wars timeline than the events which take place in The Old Republic. However, any major differences in the structure of the Order have been pointed out in Parts I through IV so far of the miniseries, with the major difference being the manner in which the Jedi Trials are carried out. The Jedi Code, teachings of Initiates and Padawans, and the different roles of the Jedi Knights discussed in Part IV can be said to be very much the same in the era of The Old Republic, as there is no evidence to the contrary.

In Part V, we conclude the miniseries with some additional Force powers and lightsaber techniques available for Jedi Knights to learn. We will dabble in both Jedi recruitment and a brief history of the Sith, we learn what it means to take on a Padawan learner, what it takes to become a Master and Grand Master of the Jedi Order, and at the end of a Jedi's career, becoming "one" with the Force.

Learning Alter abilities as a Jedi Knight is a part of the fundamental teachings of that rank, as Jedi Seer Sabla-Mandibu states that without the Alter abilities, a Jedi is like a "mud limpet" – perceiving the world around them but unable to touch it. Telekinesis is one of the most commonly used abilities by Jedi Knights. To learn this ability, Jedi are instructed to enter the Temple's Kuddaka chamber where the Muntuur Stones are kept. Each stone weighs several tons, and if a Jedi Knight can lift at least one of these stones, it is seen as a step in the right direction to mastery of Telekinesis. It is noted that Grand Master Fae Coven is capable of lifting all six stones after entering a deep state of meditation, whilst Yoda after 700 years of age can only lift five.

The path of a Jedi during their years as an Initiate and Padawan learner is difficult and demanding to say the least. In Parts I, II, and III of The Jedi Path: Teachings of the Jedi Order, we've taken you through some of the activities that an Initiate and Padawan may have to partake in to progress through the ranks. After years of endless training and tutoring by senior peers, a Jedi Padawan must pass the Jedi Trials in order to obtain the rank of Jedi Knight. However, the learning does not end there. In The Jedi Path, a Jedi lore guide written by Daniel Wallace, we learn from the perspective of Grand Master Fae Coven that there are more Knights than any other rank in the Jedi Order, and for good reason. Demands for the services of the Jedi are high, as the Order serves to protect all living beings, especially those aligned with the Galactic Republic. The galaxy is a large place, and crime fills every corner of known space.

In Part IV of the article miniseries based on Daniel Wallace's novel aimed at students of the Jedi and the Force, we look at the different roles of a Jedi Knight. They are no different to that seen in Knights of the Old Republic, though each role within the rank of Knight is much deeper than how it is depicted in BioWare's RPG. The Jedi Guardian, Jedi Consular, and Jedi Sentinal are very much in existence in Jedi lore, and we now get to find out their true roles and duties within the Jedi Order. Before we get started though, know that the purpose of this article is to serve as a knowledge base for those who wish to take on the role of a Jedi in The Old Republic. Your roleplaying endeavours should be as seamless as a battle droid conveyor belt (when R2 and 3PO aren't getting in the way of things), and if this miniseries helps you do just that, we can yell out in our best Borat impersonation voice, "Success!"

Do you ever wonder how it is that the Jedi are so ruthless and precise with their strikes, parries, and blows whilst using the unforgiving lightsaber? Not only do the Jedi have access to the almighty Force to anticipate the attack and defence strategies of their foes, but they also have access to the knowledge contained within the forms of lightsaber combat which have been studies for centuries. In Part III of this article miniseries based on the book The Jedi Path, we take you through the lightsaber forms used by both the Jedi and the Sith, as well as touching on sense abilities. We will then conclude the Padawan chapter of the book written for students of the Jedi by taking you through the Jedi Trials – the tests that determine whether a Padawan can be deemed ready for Knighthood within the Jedi Order.

For those of you still getting familiar with Jedi lore, there are six forms of lightsaber combat, each with their own style. Form I, also known as the Determination Form or Way of the Sarlacc, is the first style of lightsaber combat taught to the Jedi Initiates and Padawan learners of the Jedi Order. As previously stated in Part I of The Jedi Path: Teachings of the Jedi Order, Form I aims at the major strike zones of the body, consisting of the right and left sides of the body, as well as the head and legs. Disarming or temporarily incapacitating an enemy is the main aim of Form I. It is when we move onto Form II, also known as Makashi, and the Contention Form or Way of the Ysalamiri, that we begin to move onto the more stylised forms of lightsaber combat. Makashi was predominantly used for lightsaber-on-lightsaber combat. It is the most elegant of the six forms, using light and precise strikes at its opponents. The stance of Makashi consists of having one foot in front of the other in a line, moving forward and back upon this line. Disarming strikes with spins and twirls of the lightsaber are the more natural movements of this form.

Welcome to the second edition of The Jedi Path: Teachings of the Jedi Order. In this article mini-series, we leech onto the knowledge and lore contained with Daniel Wallace's book, The Jedi Path. In Part I, we focused briefly on the Jedi Code, but we went into detail with some of the lore surrounding the teachings and day-to-day activities of a Jedi Initiate. In Part II, we take you through the lessons and requirements of a Jedi taken as a Padawan by a Jedi Knight or Jedi Master. The path is difficult, and it requires much patience. However, a successful apprenticeship will eventually take a Jedi Padawan to the Jedi Trials where the title of Jedi Knight could be granted. Let's not get ahead of ourselves though. Let's take a look at what being a Jedi Padawan is all about.

Most Jedi Initiates will be deemed ready for an apprenticeship at around the humanoid age of twelve to fourteen standard years. After passing the Initiate Trials which was outlined in Part I of the miniseries, Jedi Initiates can increase their chances of being chosen by a Jedi Knight or Jedi Master for an apprenticeship by participating in the Apprentice Tournament. The tournament consists of lightsaber contests which are viewed by the Knights and Masters of the Order as they scope out potential Padawan learners. At times, the tournament consists of free-for-all contests, as well as battles in a zero-g chamber.

Jedi Recruiter Morrit Ch-Gally informs the students of the Jedi – the targeted audience for the book – that the most significant aspect of a Jedi Padawan's newly acquired status is the Padawan braid. The braid consists of a strand of hair behind either the left or right ear, which may one day be removed once a Jedi reaches Knighthood. Not all species have hair, however, much like the Togruta. Other options are available to Padawans, such as woven beads or braids behind the ears, wrist, neck, or horn.

The path of the Jedi is a difficult and treacherous one. It is filled with obstacles based on the rules of philosophy and morals, as well as requiring immense discipline. The Jedi Code must be followed at all times, lightsaber combat techniques must be at a competent level, and a Jedi must be able to connect mind, body and soul through a number of different and intricate meditative techniques. Not only does a Jedi have to pass a number of trials to excel within the Jedi Order, but they must do it selflessly. They must also resist the constant temptation of the dark side of the Force. A Jedi will make many decisions throughout their selfless career, and the utmost care must be taken to ensure a Jedi doesn't slip through the cracks to plunder to the fiery depths of the dark side.

A Jedi isn't without help. Neither are roleplayers who wish to take the reigns of a character based on such immense and deep lore. The Jedi Path, written by Daniel Wallace, is a book written from the perspective of some of the most formidable Jedi throughout history. The book is filled with comments by Luke Skywalker, Yoda, Count Dooku, Qui-Gon Jinn, Darth Sidious, and more. The book is written to address a Jedi in training. It is a great resources for any Jedi roleplayer in training as well. If you're struggling with certain aspects of Jedi lore, or if you wish to further your knowledge on probably the most renowned aspect of Star Wars in its entirety, be sure to check out The Jedi Path.

With SWTOR-RP hosting a Jedi-themed Force Reflection week, we thought it appropriate to educate our members on all things Jedi, bringing you the best bits from the book written by Daniel Wallace. In today's edition of The Jedi Path: Teachings of the Jedi Order, we'll be discussing the Jedi Code, the history of the Order itself, as well as some of the duties and trials faced by a Jedi Initiate in training to become a Jedi Padawan. Be sure to stay tuned at SWTOR-RP for further knowledge of the Jedi, taken straight from The Jedi Path. But for now, lets kick off Part I.

The bond between soul mates can be everlasting -- through sickness and through health, through life and death. The understanding, love and loyalty which forms through such bonds is said to be eternal. Only the harshest and most extreme circumstances, though rare, could ever destroy the attachment. In the world of Star Wars, we have seen bonds form and break. Some have rekindled and others were considered truly lost. The bond between the Jedi Exile and Kreia in the Knights of the Old Republic II, created through the force, came to a dark and epic end. Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi were separated due to Anakin's misguided thoughts and his undeniable love for Padmé. On the contrary, we have the bond between Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn. It was not resentment or betrayal that separated the two; it was the swift blow of death that ended the living bond between Padawan and Master. Qui-Gon Jinn's life was prematurely taken from him by Darth Maul in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. Though Qui-Gon's life faltered, memories of what the two men shared lived on through the Force and in Obi-Wan Kenobi. It is those kind of memories that make the experiences shared between a Padawan and Master unforgettable. In The Old Republic, players will have the opportunity play either role. Padawan or Master? The choice is yours. This article will highlight the ways and experiences of a Jedi Padawan and Master, from the point of promotion from a Jedi Initiate, to the tests of the Jedi Trials.